The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-26
CIVIL SERVICE TESTS.
CLERKS COLLAPSE AT THE PRO
MOTION ExAMIN ATOMS.

Men Old in the Service Completely I'm
nerved When Forced to Prove Their
Schclarship-uniformity in Marking
Papers to be Secured by Having a
Central Examining Board
WASHINGTON, June 25.-The Star TO-
hight says: Nothing authoritative can be
learned about the recent examinations for
promotions in the Quartermaster Generals
pffice under the civil service rules, but there
s a well founded report afioat which re-
ceives credence in department circles, Nhat
put of thirty-eight clerks examined but ten
passed the examination successfully.
PICNIC FOR SCHOLARS.
SIT is said that correct answers to MANY of
The questions asked would in no way show
efficiency of clerks, and that these very
questions, which would be easy enough for
q young man or woman fresh from school.
were the greatest stumbling blocks to the
oldest clerks who had been promoted FOR
efficiency, because they had given their at
tention for many years to official duties and
not to school studies. 1t is said that one
man employed in the discussing clerks
office made no attempt to answer the
mathematical questions asked, and yet he
was always regarded as competent clerk
and conducted his accounts correctly
ALL IN A TREMBLE,
'tIt is claimed that majority of the COM
pliers were so Hurried by a realization of the
danger of failure that they could not do
Justice to themselves. The ladies in par
hcular were at disadvantage Those who
had families dependent upon their earnings
tor support were so overcome with fear and
nervousness at the danger of being thrown
put of employment that they We're made
sick, and in one or two instances tainted
md had to be carried home.
WHOLESALE DIsMIssALs EXPECTED,
"The clerks begin to feel that there is no
doubt that promotion examinations will
afford ample opportunity for the discharge
of all employees whose services are to be dis
pensed with at the end Of the fiscal year, in
accordance with the law. Indeed, it is said
that@the Civil Service Commission will soon
be called upon to designate scholarly but in
experienced persons to fill the places of tried
md efficient clerks, who are somewhat rusty
In arithmetic and geography"
MARKING THE PAPERS.
The secretaries of the local civil service
boards at several of the large cities called
here to confer with the Civil Service Com
mission, with view to establishing a uni
form system of examination throughout
the country and to exchange views upon
questions affecting the civil service system.
concluded their conference this afternoon.
One of the most important questions dis
cussed was that of amending the present
rules SO as to provide for the examination
and marking of the papers of
applicants for positions anywhere
In the customs Or postal
service by the present Central Board of
Examiners located in Washington, and
enlarged by permanent detail of one or
more efficient officers from each of several of
she more important local offices ia the coun-
Ey. 1t is claimed that by this system of ex-
mining papers uniformity in marking and
greater promptness would be secured, and
that it would relieve the system of all sus-
plclonS even of favOrltism as the applicants
would be known here only by number the
Q pame Ill no instance being permitted to
accompany papers.
TOO MUCH WORK.
Tt is also said that in view of their other
iuties the time at the disposal of the present
Examining board for the purpose Of passing
Ind marking examination papers is entirely
Inadequate. Mr. Mason, Secretary of the
New York Custom House Board at the port
If New York, the Post Office Board, and
Mr.. Donovan, of the Chicago Custom House
Board, were appointed a committee to pre-
ent IN writing the views of the secretaries
tpon this subject. The secretaries unani-
nously favored raising the minimum as the
standard of eligibility to certification from
Is to Is, except as to such places as required
pecial or technical qualifications They
tlso favored discontinuance of the 45 year
imitation as to the age of clerks in gen.
Tal except in special cases, and also to
aise the minimum limitation of the age of
etter carriers from 10 to 81. These views,
| is said, are shared in by the Civil Service
commission, who will soon place the matter
no fnY.